Pesticidal compositions

ABSTRACT

The pesticidal composition of the invention comprises dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos. The composition is prepared by combining the components together and then subjecting the mixture to microwave radiation. The resultant composition exhibits a synergistic effect on the individual properties of the respective components which not only quickly exterminates existing pests but which also leaves a residual pesticidal protection which is not readily removed by conventional cleaning processes. The composition is particularly effective against cockroaches.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/617,030 filed Nov. 21, 1990, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to pesticidal compositions. In particular, it is directed to compositions containing both fumigant and residual pesticidal ingredients which function first to exterminate quickly any pests immediately present but then leave a residual protection against pests in the area or on the surfaces to which the composition has been applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many domestic and commercial applications wherein areas and surfaces must be protected against infestation by insects and other pests. For example, household cupboards, wardrobes, pantries and the like must be protected against invasion by ants, cockroaches and other pests. Similarly, in commercial premises and establishments such as restaurants, cafes and the like it is essential, and often mandatory under government health regulations, that areas used for the storage of food and/or the preparation and serving of meals be kept pest free.

Of particular concern are German cockroaches. These pests have a marked resistance to most of the known pesticides, including the synthetic pyrethroids. Conventional treatments only remove this species of cockroach for a period between several days and three months. Further, conventional treatments do not affect any eggs which may have been deposited by the female cockroach. Accordingly, the eggs hatch and re-infestation occurs.

In the past, organo phosphates were the preferred choice for the extermination and control of these pests, although they have been virtually superceded today by synthetic pyrethroids and carbamates. However, two well-known organo phosphates still in use are dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos. Dichlorvos is commonly used as a fumigant and thus used when it is necessary to kill pests already present in an affected area. Chlorpyrifos is a residual and is, therefore, utilised to keep an already cleared area free from pests. It is primarily used as a surface spray for short to medium-term residual control. Commercial suppliers of chlorpyrifos estimate its effective life to be approximately three (3) months. Nevertheless, individually, neither dichlorvos nor chlorpyrifos are considered to be very effective.

It is also known to provide a pesticidal composition which is a combination of fumigant and residual ingredients. In fact, dichlorvos has been used as an additive to a residual-type pesticide. Although when used as such an additive, dichlorvos does reduce the "knockdown" time required to eliminate existing pests, it does not increase the effective life of the residual ingredient to which it has been added. For this reason, dichlorvos is rarely used now in the pest control industry as the extra expense incurred in its inclusion in the composition to reduce the immediate numbers of pests present is not outweighed by any lasting advantage of the residual component.

Further, a disadvantage of the residual chlorpyrifos is that it is readily removed by cleaning of treated surfaces, such cleaning, of course, being a regular occurrence in food storage, preparation and serving areas.

Yet another disadvantage of prior pesticidal compositions, whether they contain residual ingredients or not, is that a pest usually must remain in a treated area for a sufficient period for the pesticidal composition to be effective. If the pest remains for that sufficient period, then often enough contact with the active ingredient has been made to eradicate the pest, even if the pest first leaves the treated area before dying. On the other hand, if the pest leaves the treated area before sufficient contact is made with the active ingredient, then the pest may again return to the area as it is unaware that that environment is hostile to it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the above problems and to provide a pesticidal composition containing both fumigant and residual ingredients which not only quickly exterminates existing pests but which also leaves a residual pesticidal protection which is not readily removed by conventional cleaning processes.

The present inventors have discovered that the general object can be achieved by first mixing dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos together and then subjecting the mixture to microwave radiation.

Thus according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pesticidal composition, said composition comprising dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos which have been added together and then subjected to microwave radiation.

In addition to the active ingredients, the compositions of the present invention may optionally include other, non-active ingredients, such as the usual diluents and carriers.

For example, the life of the composition can be further extended by the addition of a high molecular weight polymer to adjust the viscosity of the composition.

Another optional feature of the compositions of the present invention is the addition of a pest attractant, for example, a sweetening agent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of a pesticidal composition, said processing comprising:

1) mixing together dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos; and

2) subjecting the thus obtained mixture to microwave radiation;

whereupon the resultant composition may have added, optionally, any required diluent, carrier or other ingredient.

Preferably, the composition also includes a high molecular weight polymer. More preferably, this high molecular weight polymer is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

Optionally, the composition may include sugar as a sweetening agent to attract pests to the treated area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Examples of the compositions of the present invention and methods for their preparation will now be described.

In these examples, a reference to chlorpyrifos concentrate is a reference to the commercially available concentrate of chlorpyrifos (450 gm/l) in xylene (300 gm/l), with the balance being emulsifiers and/or other non-active components; a reference to dichlorvos concentrate is a reference to the commercially available concentrate of dichlorvos (505 gm/l) in xylene (455 gm/l), with the balance being emulsifiers and/or other non-active components; and a reference to microwave radiation is a reference to microwave irradiation of 12 cms wavelength at 600 watts for 20 seconds.

EXAMPLE 1

Commercially available dichlorvos (150 ml) and chlorpyrifos (150 ml) concentrates are mixed together and then subjected to microwave radiation. The mixture is diluted with 9 litres of water.

EXAMPLE 2

Commercially available dichlorvos (100 ml) and chlorpyrifos (100 ml) concentrates are mixed together and then subjected to microwave radiation. The mixture is diluted with 9 litres of water.

EXAMPLE 3

Polyvinyl alcohol (100 ml) was added to the composition of Example 1.

EXAMPLE 4

Commercially available dichlorvos (120 ml) and chlorpyrifos (180 ml) concentrates are mixed together, subjected to microwave radiation and added slowly to polyvinyl alcohol (200 ml) in water (2 L) with agitation and then further diluted with water (8 L). Sugar (400 g) dissolved in hot water is added as a sweetening agent which attracts pests to the area to be treated.

To establish the benefit of subjecting the mixtures of dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos to microwave radiation, a further composition was prepared whereby commercially available dichlorvos (150 ml) and chlorpyrifos (150 ml) concentrates were simply mixed together and added to 9 litres of water. The results of using this composition on commercial and residential properties are presented in Table 1.

The results of using the compositions of the present invention as described in Examples 1 and 2 above are presented in Tables 2 and 3 respectively.

                                      TABLE 1     __________________________________________________________________________     PESTICIDAL COMPOSITION - 150 mls Dichlorvos + 150 mls Chlorpyrifos mixed     and agitated then added to 9 liters of water.                                 INI-                                     INI-                                        PERFORMANCE     PROPERTY DATE TIME DESCRIPTION                                 TIAL                                     TIAL                                        3    6    9    12   15   18     ADDRESS  OF JOB                   OF JOB                        OF INFESTATION                                 K.O.                                     KILL                                        mths mths mths mths mths mths     __________________________________________________________________________     La Rustica              19/06/89                   11:30 pm                        Heavy Infestation                                 10-20                                     100%                                        No   No   Minor                                                       Renewed     Restaurant         of German                                 secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Contract     Surfers Paradise   Cockroaches     Belisimo Restaurant              20/06/89                   11:00 pm                        Moderate Infestation                                 10-20                                     100%                                        No   Minor                                                  No   No   Renewed     Broadbeach         of German &                                 secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Activity                                                            Contract                        Oriental             Serviced                        Cockroaches     Ocean View Motel              23/06/89                    9:30 am                        German   10-20                                     100%                                        No   Minor                                                  No   Minor                                                            Renewed     Coolangatta        Cockroaches -                                 secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Activity                                                            Contract                        Moderate Infestation Serviced                        in rooms                        Heavy Infestation                        in Restaurant     Tunnel Nightclub              26/06/89                   10:00 am                        Moderate 10-20                                     100%                                        Minor                                             No   Minor                                                       Renewed     Surfers Paradise   Infestation -                                 secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Contract                        German, American,                                        Serviced  Serviced                        Australian                        Cockroaches     Sam-The-Wok              27/06/89                    9:00 am                        Moderate Infestation                                 10-20                                     100%                                        No   No   No   Renewed     Restaurant         of German                                 secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Contract     Chevron Island     Cockroaches     Tandoori Taj              01/07/89                   11:30 pm                        Heavy Infestation -                                 10-20                                     100%                                        No   No   Minor                                                       Renewed     Restaurant         German, American,                                 secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Contract     Surfers Paradise   Oriental                  Serviced                        Cockroaches     Chevron Island              05/07/89                    6:00 am                        Heavy Infestation                                 10 secs                                     100%                                        Minor                                             No   No   No   Renewed     Coffee Shop        of German       Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Activity                                                            Contract                        Cockroaches     Serviced     The Avenue              14/07/89                    6:00 am                        Moderate 10-20                                     100%                                        No   Minor                                                  No   Renewed     Restaurant & Bar   Infestation - German                                 secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Contract     Surfers Paradise   American,            Serviced                        Australian     Frog Hollow              15/07/89                   11:00 am                        Heavy Infestation                                 10 secs                                     100%                                        No   No   Minor                                                       Renewed     House Boat         of German       Activity                                             Activity                                                  Activity                                                       Contract     Sanctuary Cove     Cockroaches     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 2     __________________________________________________________________________     PESTICIDAL COMPOSITION - 150 mls Dichlorvos + 150 mls Chlorpyrifos mixed,     agitated and microwaved     then added to 9 liters of water.                                  INI-                                      INI-                                         PERFORMANCE     PROPERTY DATE TIME DESCRIPTION                                  TIAL                                      TIAL                                         3   6   9   12   15   18     ADDRESS  OF JOB                   OF JOB                        OF INFESTATION                                  K.O.                                      KILL                                         mths                                             mths                                                 mths                                                     mths mths mths     __________________________________________________________________________     Stage Door Theatre              20/06/89                   12:30 pm                        Heavily Infested with                                  5-10                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   No   No     Restaurant         German & Australian                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Activity                                                               Activity     Chevron Island     Cockroaches     Grapevine              25/06/89                   10:00 am                        Very Heavy                                  5-10                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   No   No     Restaurant         Infestation of German                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Activity                                                               Activity     Southport          Cockroaches     Charlies Restaurant              26/06/89                    6:00 am                        Moderate Infestation                                  5-10                                      100%                                         No  No  No  Renewed     Surfers Paradise   of German secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract                        Cockroaches     Fawity Tacos              17/07/89                   10:30 am                        Moderate Infestation                                  5-10                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   No   Renewed     Restaurant         of German &                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Activity                                                               Contract     Main Beach         American Cockroaches     Mexican Kitchen              17/07/89                   11:30 pm                        German Cockroaches -                                  5-10                                      100%                                         No  No  No  Renewed     Restaurant         Heavy Infestation                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract     Bundall            in dishwasher.     Copper Pan              19/07/89                    7:00 am                        Moderate Infestation                                  5-15                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   Renewed     Restaurant         of German, American                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Contract     Broadbeach         & Oriental                        Cockroaches.     Residential Property              19/07/89                    9:30 am                        Heavy Infestation of                                  5-10                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   No   No     Thornton Street,   German & American                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Activity                                                               Activity     Surfers Paradise   Cockroaches.     Pellermans Hotel              24/07/89                   10:15 pm                        Heavy Infestation -                                  5-20                                      100%                                         No  No  No  Renewed     Nerang             German, Australian,                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract                        Oriental & American.     Cornelius Cruise              19/08/89                    8:30 am                        Very Heavy                                  5-20                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   No   No     Vessel             Infestation - All                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Activity                                                               Activity     Mariners Cove      Species.     __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 3     __________________________________________________________________________     PESTICIDAL COMPOSITION - 100 mls Dichlorvos + 100 mls Chlorpyrifos mixed,     agitated and microwaved     then added to 9 liters of water.                                  INI-                                      INI-                                         PERFORMANCE     PROPERTY DATE TIME DESCRIPTION                                  TIAL                                      TIAL                                         3   6   9   12   15   18     ADDRESS  OF JOB                   OF JOB                        OF INFESTATION                                  K.O.                                      KILL                                         mths                                             mths                                                 mths                                                     mths mths mths     __________________________________________________________________________     Sweethearts Cafe              01/09/89                    7:00 pm                        Heavy Infestation of                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  No  No  Renewed     Surfers Paradise   German Cockroaches                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract     Als Coffee Lounge              02/09/89                    3:00 pm                        Heavy Infestation of                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  No  Minor                                                     Renewed     Southport          German & American                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract                        Cockroaches     Commercial Hotel              05/09/89                    7:00 am                        Moderate Infestation -                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  No  No  Renewed     Nerang             All Species                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract     Draculas Theatre              16/09/89                    9:00 am                        Heavy Infestation -                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  No  Minor                                                     Renewed     Restaurant         All Species                                  Secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract     Broadbeach     City Fisheries              18/09/89                    7:20 am                        Heavy Infestation of                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   Renewed     Ashmore            German Cockroaches.                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Contract     Runaway Bay              27/09/89                    9:00 pm                        Heavy Infestation of                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  No  No  Renewed     Poultry            German Cockroaches.                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Contract     Runaway Bay     Coolangatta Senior              06/10/89                    4:00 pm                        Very Heavy                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  No  No  No   Renewed     Citizens Club      Infestation - All                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Contract     Coolangatta        Species     Residential Property              10/10/89                   11:00 am                        Moderate Infestation                                  10-15                                      100%                                         Minor                                             No  No  No   No   Renewed     Amalfi Street      of German &                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Activity                                                               Contract     Isle of Capri      American                        Cockroaches.     Residential Property              14/10/89                   10:00 am                        Moderate Infestation                                  10-15                                      100%                                         No  Minor                                                 No  No   Renewed     River Road         of German &                                  secs   Activity                                             Activity                                                 Activity                                                     Activity                                                          Contract     Cypress Gardens    American                        Cockroaches.     __________________________________________________________________________

Clearly, the quantity required of the compositions of the present invention will vary dependent on the size of the area to be heated. However, as a general illustration of quantities required, the 9 litres of Example 1 will treat 200 sq.m.

From the results presented in Tables 1 to 3, the following should be noted:

(a) The compositions of the present invention are clearly superior to the comparative example. Re-infestation of the treated area occurs within 3 to 6 months using the comparative example, in contrast to the present invention wherein there is no sign of re-infestation at 9, 12, 15 or 18 months.

In fact, it is anticipated that the compositions of the present invention will remain effective past 18 months--the results presented in Tables 2 and 3 were truncated simply because re-treatment was undertaken to ensure that re-infestation would not occur again, even though there was no indication that the effectiveness of the current treatment had lapsed.

(b) The average effectiveness of the comparative example is 7 months, whereas it is 16 months for Example 1 of the present invention and 10 months for Example 2 of the present invention.

(c) The results obtained from Example 2 of the present invention, when compared to the comparative example, establish that microwave irradiation of a mixture of dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos enables a 30% reduction in active ingredients to provide a 40% increase in effective life of the treatment.

It should also be noted that the alcoholic composition of Example 3 can be conveniently applied to light covers whereupon the heat emitted by lights when in operation releases the dichlorvos thus killing mosquitoes and other flying insects which are attracted to the lights.

Major advantages of the present invention thus include (1) the compositions exhibit a synergistic effect on the properties of the respective components either individually or as a mixture; (2) significantly less quantities of individual ingredients are required to achieve this synergistic effect; and (3), although not wishing to be bound by theory, the presence of the composition in the treated area appears to prevent female pests from depositing eggs thereon, thus significantly reducing the likelihood of re-infestation.

A further advantage is that the compositions provide a positive repelling effect. Due to the efficacious residual action of the present invention, pests such as cockroaches which take in air from underneath their bodies and thus have their lungs in close proximity to the treated surface, become immediately aware that the environment is hostile resulting in a retreat by the pest.

By using the compositions of the present invention, effective and continual protection against insects such as cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants and midges can be achieved, although it will be appreciated that the above examples are given by way of exemplification of the invention only, and that changes may be made to the details set out therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A method of extending the life of a pesticidal composition comprising a mixture of dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos, said method comprising subjecting said mixture to microwave radiation to extend the life of the pesticidal composition.
 2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of adding a polymer to said mixture after said mixture is subjected to microwave radiation to adjust viscosity of said mixture.
 3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein said polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
 4. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of adding a sweetening agent to said mixture after said mixture is subjected to microwave radiation.
 5. The method defined in claim 4 wherein said sweetening agent comprises sugar.
 6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said mixture of dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos comprises approximately 1 part of each dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos per 60 parts water.
 7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said mixture of dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos comprises approximately 1 part of each dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos per 90 parts water.
 8. A pesticidal composition having improved residual pesticidal protection prepared by the method of claim
 1. 9. A pesticidal composition having improved residual pesticidal protection prepared by the method of claim
 2. 